Adjusting device



June 3, 1930. D. D. oRMsBY ET Al- 1,751,934

ADJUSTING' DEVICE Filed Nov. 7, 1927 Hiv @WH/20mi@ Patented June 3,1930

vSTATES PATENT vrOrmea l,

DONALD DAMON ORMsRY AND JOHN sWINsCoE, OE sYRACUsE, NEW YORK, AssIGNORs 'ro GENERAL MOTORS RESEARCH CoRroRA'rIoN, OE DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPO- Y RArlorzrv OE DELAWARE ADJUSTINGT' DEVICE v Appnea'tvi'on'rafai November 7, 1927. seriai No. 231,618.

This invention relates to an adjusting device particularly designed so as to permit fine adjustment of meshing gears to insure quiet and eihcient performance. It is particularly adapted for the adjustment of the drive pinion With. respect to the ring gearin conventional automobile differential assemblies. To yeffect this adjustment it has heretofore been customaryV to mount the pinion shaft l ina carrier which is externally threaded so as to .screw into'the extension of the differential housing provided to receive it. By rotating the carrier,`the pinion is caused to advance or recede from thefgear. Usually, the carrieris l locked in position either byy splitting theend of t-he housing in Which the carrier is received and clamping the split Vend about the sleeve,

or by employing a locking plug which engages suitable notches provided in the carrier ,2O andloclrs it in position.. The lastna1ned the described methods necessitate expensivemachining operations on the parts and like- Wise require that the extension'of the differ# ential housing in Which the pinion shaft is received be considerablyv lengthened to house the adjusting means. Our improved` V construction yaffords the finest'adjustment and at the same time permits shortening of the housing extensionand a reduction in the machining operations involved in the manufacture'of, the assembly. In other Words, 'We are able to secure a bet-- ter job at a'great reduction in Cost as compared with, prior designs, this reduction, in the case of small axle'a'ssemblies, amounting to as much as $1.50 per assembly. e

According to ourinvention, the rearaxle housing or in the case of a banjo-type axle, the platefclosing the forward side of the differential recessis provided as usual With a y tubular extension to receive the drive pinion and its carrier but insteadof being threaded ably guided in it. We have provided means for causing the carrier tojbe advanced or reconnection betvveenthe carrier and the housin the extension, the carrier is merelys'lid ing, the slot being inclined in a direction to cause the carrier to be advanced or retracted when rotated. The pin-and-slotvconnection may take the form of a spiral grooveA cnt in the cylinderk and ,av lug mounted in the housing, or alternatively a spiral thread may be machined on the cylinder and the pin may be bifurcated to receive the thread.

Another improved feature'of our inventionv consists in arranging the lug or lugs so that the parts may be locked in position. This may be accomplished in a number of Ways; Perhaps the simplest consists in using several lugs instead of one and making the lugs adjustable transversely of the axis of the4 carrier so that When both are drawn inwardf ly, the lugs and the thread or groove are drawn into tight Wedging engagementy- The lugs are preferably carried by plugs slidably fitted in a cylindrical bore formedin the extension of the rear axle housing and Vthe clamping device consists of a draw-bolt passing through the plugs. A desirableA additionl tothe` construction defined consists in forming an abutment on the bolt between the lugs ,Which, if desired, Amaybe shaped to fit the groove or thread, the labutment servi'ngas a knocker when an end4 of the bolt is tapped to release the plugs'from Wedging engagement. i This invention is ycapable of many modifications and certain features maybe employed Without the others; thus, some other` locking means may be employed thanV that shown in which eventthe lugs would serve merely to Convert rotation of the carrier into axial.

movement. Vhere the locking means is not desired, one plug only may be used if preferred. vIn some casesit Amay be desired to use our locking means with some other means for effecting axial adjustment Yof the carrier.

Another featurek of .our invention consists in the provision of improved means for lockf ing in place 'they anti-friction bearing Which supports the pinion shaft in t-her` carrier. Thus, instead ofv employing the expensive jam nut heretofore customary, We make use of a simple resilient split ring.

Various other changes will suggest themselves to those' skilled in the art.

Vlliigure 2 isa view taken approximately onA line.2-2 of Figure l With parts broken away.

Eigu're 3 isa section on lineB-B of Figure 2, and Figure4 is a'fragmentary view of al l Y y I, or spira-l surface or ledge may be'formedon i modifiedform Aof, pin-and-slot connection.

Y The reference character 6 indicates acon ventionalV .automobile dierential. construction;i-neluding a ring gear 8.."K-Thev differf ential is` mounted in the usual enlargement Y provided in the rear axle, not shown. The

plate or cover 10 closesk the front of the enn largement and is provided with a4r tubular extension l2 in which the ydrive pinion 14, its shaft 16 and carrier 18 'are mounted. l Y The-inner end of theshaft 16 is supporte byfanti/-friction bearing 2O slidably received in gui'deway 22`formed in theextension`12.

rlhe outer endof the shaft v16visf` supported i-n anti-frictionbearing*24.* A'co'llarA 26 spaces the bearings 22 and 24.7V Coupling vmember 28abut's-against the outer edgel of the inner raceof the bearing 24. Whenthe nut 30 is drawn home onthe threadedouter end of the shaft 16, the member 28, bearing 24,y sleeve .26 and bearing 22 are ylocked toY the shaft.v Bearing 24 is, as statedr'received in carrierl/S, which is slidable in bearing'y 3,2

formed in theouter end of thee'xtension 12.' TheouterV race of the bea-ring 24 is locked in' the carrier I8 byy means of the splitvsprin'g ring `34 fittingV in lgroove 86 provided inthe carrier. :Ehering prevents movement ofthe race 'in4 onerdirection while an integral flange l8-fo-rnf1edat the other' f'end of theKV carrier prevents movement of therace'in the other direction. i

.l Topreventthe escape of oil from the ldifferential assem'bly,` l an `oilV retaining ring 4.0 ofl any desired construction is inountedinthe `"outer endofthecarrier. The outer sur# face of the carrier is formed to provide teeth 42's() as l"to provide meansl for ,conveniently rotating it.

' -In the form shown in Figures `Vl'to'B, a

spiral groove 44`is cut in .theouter surface of the carrier-18.( In this groove arer received lugs46 lin the Vshape 'of segments' of threads formed upon draw-plugs 48'reeeivedin cylindrical bore *50* formed in Y the extension l2.

The plugs 48 arel apertured 'to receive bolt` y52y provided between the'plugs with ancenlargement 54, the upper part of which is preferably, formed asiat 56 for reception in the groove 44.V g Nuts. 5 8 are threadedupon y the ends of the boltf52jf i" i The device operatesas follows:

With .nuts A58 loosened, byfengaging a suitable tool with -the notches 42, the carrier-82 'may 'berotated f The rotationwould be without effect on the axial positionof the carrier were it not thaty the engagement of the lugs 46 and 56 with the groove 44 `convert 4the rotary movement of the plug into axial movemay ibej dispensed VwithV anda simple inclined thespiral thread of which thelugs 46 form mentof'the lugs and'groovef.; vrNot Vonly do maybe transmitted tothe pinion sh'afttf;

justed position, Vto 'change the Vadjustment it is necessary. tofirstloosen-theA nuts 5,8 but`v with lthis .done, -it may. lbe found thatV the. plugs are still wedgedin position. If now ment. To accomplish this function, .it isobvious that it vis necessary toV provide'but afff. i

single lug46, or equivalentjrelatively fixed ff part. IIt" is likewise obvious that if but 'one-f.. c way arxialadjustment isfdesired, the grooveY f the lugs thus serve .to lockthe' sleeve .in place` I but 'they'also act to resist axial thrusts'which j l1 sa f f. 'I Thel purpose of the enlarg'e1nent554 is thisfzj 1.,' After the carrier hasbe'en locked in ad-fv the ends of the-"bolt 52 are lightly tapped i the engagementof the enlargement 56 witlr.

theinner ends of the drawsplugs 48will serve l Y to release the wedgingengagementl andjper#` mit'rotation' of theearrier.

The form shown in Figure' 4 issubstantial-l y, ly `the same that Vsliown'in'tlie preceding figures vexcept that both'thedraw-plugs 48 n and the'enlarg'ement p54.v are provided witha. slotff62 straddling athr'eadf64 out 'on'jthe me f e carrier 18. This is ynothingrbut afreversal as shown. Y'

V of the `parts shownV in Figures 1 to 3in 'that f the thread 64 replaces the groove f44`while',

thellugs 46 and 54 arefgrooved or bifurcated'` 'i105 Obviously theinvention' is capable of confV rsiderablefmodification'. Y VThe locking means maybe-used with some other .device for ef fectingaxial adjustment ofthe carrier,such

as conventional screw threads.V The pin-and.-

slot arrangement forV effecting 'axial adjust l. nient ofl `carrier-mayl be usedfwith any pref* 'n ferred'form oflockingmeans.v l:Other forms;-

iria of clamping device mayy besubstituted fork the bolt 52 and nuts 58.`v In some/casesJit maybe found desirable'to omitthe enlarge'f. 5 m91154. l These and'various kindred modi-v ications are ycovered by the Vbroad vtermii f j Y n.01

1101099 0f the appended claims; 1' Weclam:y .i

'- l; A diiferential'assembly compri,sing--aYl a shaft'earryinginember in theform of a housingy member having' a tubular extension, Q

member,meansfincludingan inclined )surisurface for ee'ctingf axial adjustment Acylinder uponrotation thereof.

'.faceon said `'cylinder and aV removable `rela-,

Vtively stationary part engaging said inclined if! 'Y O the l' Y i 'gi-Iso the-cylinder and support for effecting axial adjustment of the cylinder upon rotation thereof and means for locking said cylinder in adjusted position, said last-named means vincluding parts having wedging engagement with said slot.

4. The combination of a support, a cylindrical bearing memberslidably guided in the support, pin-and-slot means associated with the cylinder and support for effecting axial adjustment of the cylinder upon rotation i thereofan'd means for locking said cylinder in adjusted position, said slot being formed in the cylinder and. said pinbeing carried Y bysaid support, and said locking means comprising a second pin mounted in said support and engaging saidslot and means for drawing said pins together to lock the member in adjusted position. g

5. In a dierential adjusting means the combination of a support, a cylinder slidably mounted in the supp`ort,`pinandslot means associated with the cylinder and support for effecting axialk adjustment of the cylinder upon rotation thereof, wedge means to lock the cylinder in adjusted position and means for releasing said wedge means.

- 6. In a differential adjusting means the combination of a support, a cylinder slidably mounted in the support'and provided with a spiralV groove, means engaging the groove to causeaXial movement of the Vcylinder upon rotation thereof, 'means associated with the groove and said firstenamed means to lock l the cylinder in adjusted position, and means Ythe groove.

for releasing said locking means.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6, said last named means including a draw-bolt having an enlargement interposed between said' groove engaging means to effect their withdrawal from wedging engagement with 8. In a differential adjusting mechanism, the combinationof a support provided with a bore,a differential pinion carrier slidably mounted in said bore, a groove in the 'carrier, a draw-plug mounted in the support having a tooth in the form of a segment of a thread in engagement with the groove.

9. The combination as dened in claim 8 and means for forcing the tooth into locking engagement with the groove.

10. In a 'differential adjusting mechanism,

a bore, a'diiferentialspinion carrier slidably mounted in said bore, a helical groove in the carrier, draw-plugskmounted in the support and provided with'teeth inthe form of segments of threads in engagement with the i groove and means for drawing the plugs into n locking engagement with the groove.

11. In a 'differential adjusting mechanism, the combination of a support provided with a bore, a dierential pinion carrier slidably mounted in the bore, a groove in the carrier, and a removable draw-plug mounted in the support and adapted for locking engagement with the groove.

12.In a differential adjusting mechanism the combination of a support provided with a bore, a differential pinion carrier adjustably mounted in the bore, said carrier being provided with an inclined yWedging surface on its periphery, and a pair 0f wedge members carried by said support and engaging said surface, and means for drawing said wedge members together to lock the carrier in ad- Y justed position.

13. In a differential adjusting mechanism the combination of a support provided with a bore, a differential pinion carrier mounted in the boreso as to be adjustable axially thereof, said support being provided with a transverse bore arranged tangentially with respect-to saidA first named bore, said carrier being provided with an inclined surface, and means in said transverse bore having engagement with said inclined surface to hold said carrier in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

DONALD DAMON ORMSBY.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN SWINSCGE.

loo 

